Editor Picks: Holiday Gifts We’re Excited to Give Our Own Kids in 2022
The holiday season comes with many beloved traditions and family rituals. Chief among them? Gift-giving. Granted, shopping for the perfect present can be a chore (particularly for hard-to-please relatives!), but shopping for the children in your life can be positively delightful. Trust us, watching their little faces light up as they unwrap each gift will make all the late-night shopping worthwhile.
Stuck for ideas? The Bump editors are sharing the toys and must-have products we’re eyeing for our own kids, in case you want to follow suit. Here, you’ll find holiday gift recommendations for babies, toddlers and big kids, so you’re sure to discover something magical for every age and occasion.
I’m the proud mama of two giggly girls: a 4-and-a-half-year-old who loves arts and crafts, architecting and all things unicorns; and a newly minted 2-year-old who likes climbing, crafting and doing whatever her big sister is doing. Our family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, but we limit our gift-giving to Christmas Day. This year I’m hunting down space-saving presents (there’s only so much room in a New York City apartment!) that’ll keep my kiddos working their minds and bodies.
What I’m Gifting My 4-Year-Old:
My little girl is ready to graduate to a big-kid bike! Learning to ride a bike seems like one of those major childhood milestones, and to get her started, we're gifting her a Woom bicycle. The brand has a stellar reputation for a reason: They make ultralight bikes that are geometrically designed for beginners. The frame slopes for a low entry (good for my petite daughter), and it features a steering limiter to help with stability and prevent kiddos from overturning. Plus, it comes in an array of cute colors—critical for an opinionated preschooler!
Other gift ideas:
What I'm Gifting My 2-Year-Old:
For my just-turned-2-year-old, I'm planning to get these riverstones. She's a wriggly toddler who loves to run around, and these toys will be just the thing on a cold and rainy indoor day. I can just picture her and her sister jumping from stone to stone pretending the floor is lava—and I love that they'll help hone her balance, coordination and gross motor skills. I also appreciate that they stack for easy storage, because when it comes to New York City living, space is precious.
Other gift ideas:
It’s never a dull moment with three sons under 10 (ages 7, 5 and 2), and the holidays are no exception! On Christmas morning, our guys receive two special presents from Santa and one gift from Mommy and Daddy. We try to focus on family time instead of a day-long marathon of gift-opening.
What I’m Gifting My 2-Year-Old:
All three of my sons went through a fireman phase. Right now, my youngest son is obsessed with anything and everything rescue-related. This little fire station playhouse will give him his own space and allow his imagination to run wild!
Other gift ideas:
My 10-year-old math whiz, soon-to-be 8-year-old glam girl and 3-and-a-half-year-old cuddle monster made the nice list again—or so I’m told. Shopping for three different kiddos with three different personalities is a trip, and it becomes more challenging (and more rewarding!) as they get older and their interests evolve. The early-morning hours of December 25th are my favorite; we try to keep things joyful but calm—before grandmas, aunts and uncles bring the “Christmas crazy” (a whole other level of merry). It’s the quiet before the festive storm, complete with bacon, cinnamon rolls and all the coffee—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What I’m Gifting My 10-Year-Old:
My motto: You can never go wrong with Legos. And my coding, engineering and gaming fanatic will enjoy combining his obsession for all things Nintendo with his love for building intricate structures. He has many Lego masterpieces on a shelf in his room, and this retro-inspired console will be the crown jewel of his collection. Best of all: Constructing this will provide hours of screen-free entertainment—and, no, the irony is not lost on me! (FYI: This set is geared for 18+, so it's definitely a parent-child project!)
Other gift ideas:
What I’m Gifting My Almost-8-Year-Old:
My middle-child diva has a holiday wish list as long as her yet-to-be-cut ponytail. Narrowing down the actual wants from her momentary whims can be challenging, but I’m confident she’ll be delighted with this pick: a FujiFilm Instax Mini Camera. She's always snapping sweet and silly selfies and artsy and moody photos with my iPhone. She begs me to get them printed—and it usually takes me days (if not longer) to get the job done. But now she can have instant gratification with her own retro-inspired Polaroid camera. (I just have a feeling I'm going to have to create a strict budget for film refills!)
Other gift ideas:
What I’m Gifting My 3-and-a-Half-Year-Old:
We're all about pretend play these days. And while my littlest loves her big sissy's Barbie Dream House, she really wants a doll home to call her own. This Little Tikes wooden dollhouse fits the bill! I adore how it grows with kiddos. The modular design allows budding architects to dream, build and imagine to their heart's content. (Plus, it's way more aesthetically pleasing than the bright pink plastic monstrosity that currently resides in our living room—so I won't mind keeping this one on display for all-day play!)
Other gift ideas:
While I’m not a parent yet, I have two nieces that I love to spoil during the holidays. At 7 years old, the oldest is quite the character. She adores Japanese anime (think: Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke), seaside walks and all things spooky. Her younger sister is 4 and a true performer. She loves to sing, dance and play make-believe with a troupe of unicorn and mermaid toys. As I live in a different country than my family, I won’t be there on Christmas Day, so I put a lot of thought into gift-giving, as it’s a great way to send love from afar.
What I’m Gifting My 4-Year-Old Niece:
Cara loves to hum, sing and bop along to her favorite tunes. And like most 4-year-old girls, she's a big fan of the Encanto soundtrack. So this cool karaoke microphone is sure to be a smash hit! Thanks to Bluetooth technology, it’s easy to stream and sing along to Disney songs, including “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Simply connect the device to a smartphone, tablet or computer, and press the button to get the party started.
Other gift ideas:
What I’m Gifting My 7-Year-Old Niece:
Josie is very much into the natural world and often trawls the beach for fossils, shells and other treasures. She also loves to experiment with STEM toys, so I think this crystal growing kit is right up her alley. The chemistry set by National Geographic comes with five real crystals, plus everything you need to grow new specimens. Better yet, the included light-up base lets kids showcase their creations at home.
Other gift ideas:
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